Bucket cover and fastener therefor



June 21, v H DOOL|TTLE k v BUCKET COVER AND FASTENER THEREFOR Filed Oct. 21, 1954 INVENTOR. 1g HAROLD DOOLITTLE BY 60,, arm M, Ja

United States Patent O BUCKET COVER AND FASTENER THEREFOR Harold Doolittle, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application October 21, 1954, Serial No. 463,725 2 Claims. Cl. 220-55 This invention relates to a cover for buckets used to collect sap, such as maple sap.

Sap buckets should be kept covered while they are hanging from the tree in order to protect the sap col lected in the bucket from being contaminated by extraneous matter, such as leaves, twigs, rain, snow, animal life, etc. At the same time the cover should be so arranged that at least part of it can be expeditiously opened to permit emptying the sap from the bucket.

The present invention fulfills these objects by providing a simple cover of plastic or similar material which is held in place by a retainer band engaging a clip. The clip is so formed that it holds the band in placed while permitting a segment of the cover to be lifted up without disturbing the remainder of the cover.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the cover of the invention applied to a sap bucket.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the clip alone.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, the bucket 10 is a sap bucket of a usual size and shape. The bucket has, of course, the usual outside bead extending around its rim. A piece of suitable material 11 extends over the. top of the bucket and well down over its rim to form a protective cover. This cover piece may be of clear plastic or any other suitable and inexpensive flexible material.

In order to hold the cover 11 in place, a retainer band 12, which is preferably an endless band of elastic material, such as rubber, extends around the folded-down part of the cover. This retainer band engages under .the beaded rim of the bucket, thus holding the cover securely in place over a major portion of the circumference of the bucket.

However, the retainer band 12 does not extend around the full circumference of the open end of the bucket. Instead it crosses over a clip 13, leaving a segmentalshaped portion 14 of the cover free from restraint by the band. This segmental portion 14 of the cover constitutes a movable flap which can be lifted up to permit emptying the bucket.

The clip 13 is formed at each end with a projecting lug Patented June 21, 1955' 15, which extends beyond the bucket rim to hold the retainer band in place. Each end is also formed with a downwardly curved claw 16, which engages around the beaded rim to hold the clip in place. Each claw 16 is bent from the main body of the clip'at an angle which conforms to the curvature of the bucket on which the clip is to be used.

It will be clear fromthe drawing that the retainer band 12 extends around a major portion of the periphery of the rim, engaged under the bead, as previously explained. When the band 12 reaches one end of clip 13 it extends under the lug 15 and over the claw 16 to the upper side of the clip. It then extends across the upper side of the clip to the opposite end of the clip, thence down over the second claw 16, under the second lug 15, and thence on around under the bead.

There is a certain dependent relation between the retainer band 12 and the clip 13, since the band 12 holds the clip 13 in place, while the lugs 15 of the clip keep the retainer band from sliding back over the surface of the cover. 7

The clip 13 may be formed of metal that may be easily stamped or pressed to the desired shape. And since the entire cover assembly consists of a single clip, a retainer band, and a piece of flexible cover material, the assembly can be furnished very inexpensively.

While the clip 13 has been illustrated as a narrow band, it should be understood that it can be made wider and given a segmental shape.

At the same time the device furnishes a practical cover that is handy and efficient in use.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now considerto represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim: 1. In combination: a bucket having a beaded rim, a

flexible cover extending over'the open end of the bucket and extending down over the beaded rim, a clip laid on top of the cover and extending chordally across the open end of the bucket, each end of the clip being provided with a downwardly projecting claw engaged under the beaded rim, and with a lug which projects beyond the circumference of the rim, and a retainer band which is engaged under the beaded rim for a major portion of the circumference'of the rim, but which passes under both of said lugs and across said clip, whereby the retainer band secures the cover to the bucket over a major portion of the circumference of the bucket, leaving a portion of the cover unsecured to serve as an openable flap.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which the retainer band is an endless elastic band.

No references cited. 

